Northeast Ohio Medical University · BiologyAnsari Lab
Mohammad Yunus Ansari · Rootstown, Ohio
Research Focus
Dr. Mohammad Yunus Ansari's lab focuses on understanding how damaged mitochondrial DNA can contribute to inflammation and degeneration of intervertebral discs, which is a significant cause of back pain. By investigating the mechanisms of mtDNA leakage and its role in chronic inflammation, the lab aims to discover new therapeutic targets that could help in treating disc degeneration. The research involves both human samples and mouse models to explore these processes in a comprehensive manner.
intervertebral disc degenerationmitochondrial DNAoxidative stressinflammationcGAS/STING pathway
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the fragmentation and escape of oxidatively damaged mtDNA from mitochondria.
AIM 02Explore the mechanisms by which mtDNA escapes into the cytosol.
AIM 03Identify how mtDNA leakage induces inflammation in intervertebral discs.
AIM 04Study the pathways of mtDNA sensing in intervertebral discs.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsDNA extractionin vitro assayssurgical techniquesgenotypingquantitative PCRorganotypic culturesimmunohistochemistrybiochemical assays
Output against the department
Publications30bottom 4% of dept.991st of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.1kbottom 31% of dept.716th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.